Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-21
W AhDElN . VI INEI
CALIFORNIA STATE PRISO,

WARDEN OFFICE,
CALIFORNIA STATE PRISON,
San QUENTIN, Cal, March, II, 1887.
To the Hon. State Board OF Prison Directors Fol
SOM, CdL.-GENTLEMEN: The report of proceed
ings at your meeting here on the 18th inst. was
not handed me until this morning. and in ac-
cordance with resolution of your Board direct
| ing me to report to you m writing as to how
prisoners could be employed in case all the
| manufacturing interests, except the manufact-
ure of iute should be abandoned at this insti-
| tuition, beg to offer the following suggestions,
viz
Should the appropriation bill for various new
buildings, passed by the late Legislature, be
signed by the Governor, very nearly all the pris-
oners now employed in the various shops could
be employed in the preparation of the grounds
for the erection ofsaid buildings, and this alone
would keep them busy for year or more.
In case the Governor also signs the appropria-
ton bill for another jute plant, there would be
ample employment for all the prisoners now
working in the shops for at least year and a
half making brick and getting buildings into
shape for machinery. When the new lutte plant
could be put into working operations, fully 500
prisoners could be employed in the manufacture
of jute. The rest of the prisoners, probably
about 400, would then be employed, as the same
number is now, viz, in the various shops car
ried on solely for account of the State, and
manufacturing articles only consumed at the
prison, making repairs, etc.
Should neither of the bills mentioned meet
the approval of the Governor the only work
prisoners now employed in the shops could be
put to- would in my opinion, be the identifying
of the grounds surrounding the prison, making
roads, quarrying, improving the boat landing
etc.
The resolution of your honorable Board. call
ing for this report not having been handed to
me until this morning, compels me to merely to
offer these short suggestions without going into
elaborate Details but trust they are full enough
to enable you to comprehend the situation. Re
spectfully, PAUL SHIRLEY, Warden.
THE FOLSOM PRISON.
WARDEN's OFFICE, STATE PRIseN. !
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CAL
March 49, 1887.
To the Honorable State Board Of Prison Directors
| GENTLEMEN: | have received copy of the fol-
lowing resolution, adopted at the meeting of
Your honorable board at the San Quentin Prison
Resolred, That it is the sense of the Board that
they intend to discontinue at the earliest prac-
ticable moment the operation of all manufacture
ing industries at the prisons, except the manu-
featuring of ute, as TO prevent all competition
with free labor, and that inasnuch as such ac-
| ton Will throw out of employment a large num-
Der of convicts unless other employment be
| found, the Warden of each prison is hereby in
structed to submit to the Board at its next meet
| ing at Folsom plan in writing for working such
ment
In compliance with your instructions to sub
NIT to the Board at its next meeting at Folsom
plan in writing for working such conviets who
shall be so thrown out of employment, 1 have
| the honor to report as follows:
The only industry hitherto operated at this
shaping it for use in the construction of build
| ings, docks, walls, sidewalks, street-crOSsings
roadways Enclosures, and, for memorial pur-
poSes Since last July the operation of this in
dustry has been practically discontinued. The
sale of curbing for sidewalks and slabs for street.
crossings was stopped after 60 days notice to the
purchaser, and the prisoners, except those re-
quired to complete the order for the Stone Dry
Dock. have been employed in the work of shap-
ing granite blocks for the construction of walls
for the prison yard, and for an addition to the
cell building.
The prison was planned to accommodate 64S
convicts, and have been obliged to make room
for more than that number, as the population
has reached CSC. 1t is necessary to extend the
cell building, and have already laid subStan-
tial foundations for the outer walls of an addi-
ton that measures 4S6 feet. The walls of first
class ashlar work, in regu ar courses, have been
carried UP to the highth of the original cell
and are now partly completed around the entire
| Enclosure. This work Will challenge COMPARE
son with any similar work in the State, and
can readily be contraSted with the work on the
original building.
10 complete the outer walls of the addition
and to carry up the walls of the original build
ing to the hight first intended by the plans, and
| to put on the iron roof, VIII employ, during the
summer, all the prisoners not engaged in farming
| gardening, aud other occupations for the main
tenance of the prison. To dress the dimension
stones for the cells and TO put in the fOuada-
| tons for the cell buildings viii occupy the
whole force of prisoners for two years. The
value of the addition, and the Improvements TO
the original building will be $4,000.
All this work, and all the branches of trade
auxiliary to the building of such a structure,
| can be done entirely by the prisoners, SO that
they will not only be employed, but viii be in
structed in knowledge of useful trades. At
the completion of this work, or before If your
Honorable Board should desire. can commence
the erection of a stone building for jute fac
tory at point where it will be most adyanta-
geous TO use the power of the canal to be con-
structed by the Folsom Water Power Company,
/ in accordance with the terms of the deed con-
| veying the land for the site OF the prison.
Other stone buildings can &c constructed to
/ take the places of the wooden structures now
used as officers quarters and Shops and wall
can be erected to inclose ten or twenty acres of
yard This work, giving employment to all the
4 enhancing the value of the property and giving
greater security for the safe keeping of the pris
oners.
At any time your Honorable Board may be
called upon to furnish the labor to complete
| the canal and dam for the Folsom Water Power
Company, to carry the water of the American
river along the river bank and fronting the pris-
/ on wall this may require large force of pris-
oners for year, and in my judgment, measures
should be taken TO encourage the completion OF
this work. The canal will utilize magnificent
power that is now running TO waste, and, beside
| supplying the prison with movement for the
machinery of iu1e factory, will furnish power
/ for dozen mills along its banks before the
water is CARED into bitches for irrigating pur-
poses This canal will not only be of service to
the prison but viii bened. the State generally
All the work necessary to complete the canal can
be done By the prisoners Respectfully submit
ted. JOHN McCoNB, Warden.
Director Boggs said the report of War
| den McComb was so complete, so full of
! information and suggestion that he de-
sired it spread in full upon the minutes so
as to preserve it for future reference. 1t
treats in an able manner of matters that
must in the near future come before this
Board, not only for consideration. but for
action 1t shows conelGs;vely that the
prisoners at this institution can be profit
s0iy employed in manner that will in
nowise conflict with free labor.
Director Sonntag said he did not believe
tie prison at Folsom could ever operate
successfully iute works. He did not see
the use of spreading this lengthy report
Upon the minutes.
Director Wilkins favored Mr.. Boggs no.
on to spread it upon the minutes II
would imply no action, and il contained